The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

This Musical, directed by Jim Sharman, mixes light horror and comedy with pure queerness. Its aesthetic inspired early drag culture. The plot itself is a subversion of 1950s and 1960s Holywood movies. It was a revolutionary masterpiece that broke records. Even after being criticized by conservatives. And besides that, it’s part of a significant cultural movement from the late 20th century. 

But these are not the only reasons that make this movie relevant to our sisters. There’s a lot more to discuss regarding other aspects of the film. The appeal may be hard to understand if you don’t live through it. As such, younger generations should be taught about the historical context. Sounds interesting? Make sure you read the rest for more information!

1- Plot summary

The plot is a parody of science fiction and horror movies from the 1930s and 1950s. It starts with a recently engaged couple, Janet and Brad, who are off to celebrate at a friend’s house. This friend is the scientist Dr. Scott, but they get lost as it’s a rainy night. They take refuge at a castle run by Dr. Frank-N-Furter. And he’s an eccentric, cross-dressing scientist.

They notice people wearing strange costumes at what looks like a convention party. The unusual dressing style of the guests is somewhat provocative. And Dr. Frank is in full-drag makeup, despite using a masculine name and pronouns. He shows Janet and Brad his ultimate creation: An artificial man named Rocky. He was designed to “Satisfy” Frank’s needs. The couple is convinced to spend a night in the castle, where they are given separate bedrooms. Both of them end up being seduced by Frank that night, but Janet doesn’t take it well. After witnessing Frank and Brad together, she seduces Rocky, much to the scientist’s dismay.

After a few more pieces of music, tensions arise. Dr. Scott arrives at the castle looking for his Nephew Eddie. Frank is later revealed to have killed Eddie, using his brain to give life to Rocky, and serving what was left of him as Dinner. All the guests are shocked by this discovery. Janet then tries to flee with rocky, upsetting frank even more. He then freezes everyone, changing their clothes and using mind control to make them dance. They do so as if in a cabaret show. But he’s soon interrupted by the Butler Riff Raff and his sister Magenta, who declare a mutiny. It’s revealed that Frank, Riff Raff, and Magenta are aliens from the planet “Transexual” in the “Transylvania galaxy.” Riff Raff, fed up with Dr. Frank’s crimes, kills him and Rocky. But he spares the protagonists and Dr. Scott before making the castle float into space.

2- Why is it impactful?

We must understand that this movie was released in the 1970s. It was a time of revolt and rebellion. People got tired of the conservative influence from the 1950s and 1960s. They started to talk about sexual freedom more often. As such, Queer subcultures started to gain strength. It wasn’t the time to give up on their identities, despite the conservative pressure against them.

The historical context is part of what makes it relevant, as the movie reflects part of this line of thought. As such, it was considered to be too daring by some people. Back in 1975, conservative backlash made it a box office fiasco. But in 1976, it became one of the highest-grossing films. That’s thanks to midnight screenings for the queer public. It soon gained cult status, with many fans attending these screenings in costumes. Some of them still happen every Halloween. It grated this movie the title of “longest-running release in film history.”

After a while, this movie began to influence its viewers in many ways and is considered the biggest influence on the Punk Rock dressing style. It includes color-dyed hair, Leather vests, and ripped fishnets. The character of Dr. Frank N Furter also significantly impacted the drag queen culture, especially in terms of makeup. Some of these trends are still visible in certain queer groups today. But its message might be the most impactful part of this movie. It tries to encourage its viewers to be themselves and express their gender identity. Aspects of masculinity, feminity, and neutral genders are present in this film. And it manages to differentiate it from concepts like sexual orientation. It’s ahead of its time in those terms, and that’s why it suffered such a conservative backlash.

Despite the late 1970s being important for discussing gender issues, many people were still learning about that. Back then, there was no such thing as the internet, and gender identities weren’t discussed in mainstream media. This movie helped many of our queer sisters discover who they were. They soon realized they shouldn’t restrict themselves to heteronormative ways. It was also the first contact for some of them with cross-dressing.

3- Who should watch it?

Because of the significant influence of this movie, any queer person should watch it. It is a bit extreme for conservatives, as it portrays gender expressions in a way they aren’t used to. Those who watch it should be aware that it is a film adaptation of a musical. Some people don’t like this kind of movie, but it adds to the atmosphere in this case. It worked so well that many stage musicals were adapted after this one. It has many artistical aspects that remind us of stage plays. As such, I recommend it to drag queens looking for inspiration.

Queer and non-binary folk could also make good use of it. It may help them figure out their gender identity and other stuff about who they are. Another reason to watch it is to get familiar with a piece of queer history. This is an excellent way of understanding what those social movements fight for. And besides that, Tim Curry’s performance as Frank N Furter was, and still is, magnificent. He Breaks the gender barrier and makes us wonder where the limits are. In other words, anyone looking for an excellent artistic movie should watch it.

Summary

The movie is a revolutionary work of art. It subverts all conservative notions about gender and sexuality. As such, it became a bastion of queer representation. The cast works perfectly, and the musical is well executed. As for the relevance, it played a part in shaping the queer subculture. It’s worth watching for many reasons, and none of our sisters would regret it. Do you have plans to watch it? Let us know what you expect to see and what you think of it afterward! Leave a comment describing your experience.